Polish President Among 96 Killed in Plane Crash

Russian authorities put the death toll at 96 in the crash of the Polish President's plane. President Lech Kaczynski was leading a delegation of 88 people, including his wife and some of Poland's highest military and civilian leaders to an event marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police. Officials say the plane was trying to land in thick fog when it crashed. A regional official says tentative findings indicate the plane hit the treetops before going in. The state news channel has been airing footage from the crash site that shows pieces of the plane scattered widely amid some trees. The Polish foreign ministry says in addition to the president, Poland's army chief of staff, national bank president, deputy foreign minister, army chaplain, head of the National Security Office, deputy parliament speaker, civil rights commissioner and at least two presidential aides and three lawmakers were on board. The prime minister and other top government ministers were not aboard the plane. (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)